Bob Knepper | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: Akron, Ohio |
May 25, 1954 |||
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MLB debut | |||
September 10, 1976, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
June 24, 1990, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 146–155 | ||
Earned run average | 3.68 | ||
Strikeouts | 1,473 | ||
Teams | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
Robert Wesley Knepper (born May 25, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1990 for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, both of the National League. Knepper was a two-time All-Star and the 1981 NL Comeback Player of the Year. He generated controversy with his remarks about female umpire Pam Postema and the National Organization for Women in 1988.
Born in Akron, Ohio his family moved to Napa Valley when he was nine years old and he attended Calistoga High School
In the September 1978 issue of SPORT Magazine, Jay Stuller wrote an extraordinarily positive article on Knepper, entitled, You Can't Compare Him To Koufax...Yet. As Knepper's career never reached that standard, critics would often refer to that article and say, "You Can't Compare Him to Koufax...Ever."
On December 8, 1980, Knepper was traded from the Giants along with Chris Bourjos to the Astros for Enos Cabell. He won The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1981. He was voted to the National League All-Star team twice (1981 and 1988). He led the National League in shutouts in 1978, with six, and in 1986, with five. He also led the league in hit batsmen in 1980, with eight, and losses in 1987, with 17.
By July 1989, Knepper was struggling with a 4-10 win-loss record and 5.89 ERA. The Astros released him after he refused a demotion to the minor leagues. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants a few days later. He pitched the rest of the regular season with San Francisco, but did not make their postseason roster. The Giants waived Knepper in June 1990.